“Before the end of 2009 [Inshallah] I will electrify the whole of Western Region; from Kartong to Kalagi. By 2011, there will be a senior secondary school at every 50km in the region, because  Western Region is the most populated region, but did not have many senior secondary schools,” declared President Jammeh at a mass victory celebration rally in Brikama, as he winds  up  the 2008 ‘Dialogue with the People Tour’.

According to the president,Western Region (WR) deserves such developement for they were steadfast in their support for him and the AFPRC/ APRC in last 14 years of his rule.

He observed that other regions enjoy more developement under his goverment than WR, saying “in the next five years, many will come to stay in the region [because of the level of developement]..It is your turn and other regions will have no cause to complain,” declared the president, amid a timultuous applause from the huge Brikama crowd.

The Gambian leader, then added that plans are underway to rejuvenate the rice fields in the region by  drilling boreholes to complement the rains; thus, boosting rice production and other agricultural activities.

Speaking earlier, Yankuba Touray, the secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, who doubles as the APRC national mobiliser, said WR has a genuine cause to continue their support for the president and the APRC, citing the  multi-million Dollar Kombo Coastal Roads project, which has alleviated the suffering of most people in the region.

He renewed his call on Gambian youths to take the lead in national development, especially in the non-formal sectors.

SoS Touray informed the rally that goverment is currently losing a lot of money in subsidising rice, which cannot be sustained in the long run. “If not the subsidy, the price of rice would have exceeded the present selling price, as major rice exporting nations have curtailed their exports; thus, leading to this situation. To avert a further escalation of prices, Gambians, especially the youth, should venture into meaningful agricultural activities for food self-sufficiency”

According to SoS Touray, President Jammeh will soon unveil a US$12 million agricultural project for WR and a textile firm, as part  of the ‘Green Project’ to provide 1,000 new jobs for the youth folk.

For his part, the chief of Kombo Central,Dembo Santang Bojang, reaffirmed his people’s unalloyed support for the president and the APRC, simply due to Jammeh’s sterling leadership qualities. “We have no regret in supporting you [Mr President] for we are reaping the benefit,” he told the president.

Other speakers at the rally included SoS Fatou Lamin Faye,  Aja Ndey Jatta, APRC women mobiliser for WR, Saikouna Sanneh, a youth representative and Jammeh KK Bojang, APRC chairman for WR.